Symptoms of jaundice

The icterus is characterized by a coloration of the skin. Often the skin tone is described as yellowish, which is also reflected in the name of jaundice. If the total bilirubin rises above 2mg/dl in the serum, not only the skin but also the eyes can be affected by the coloration.

This is where the sclerae show up, meaning the naturally “whitish appearing part of the eye”, also in a yellowish tone. Severe itching of the skin is also one of the symptoms of icterus, but the exact cause of this is not yet sufficiently understood. Fever, fatigue and an enlarged liver can also accompany the icterus.

This occurs mainly in the case of inflammation or infection of the liver itself. Further accompanying symptoms then depend on the underlying cause of the icterus. A coloration of the sclerae or the white part of the eye occurs with increased bilirubin levels in the blood.The otherwise whitish appearing sclerae are then yellowish discolored.

The icterus on the eyes usually occurs before the skin turns yellow, since a lower concentration of bilirubin is already sufficient for coloring. The yellowing of the eyes alone should also be clarified diagnostically in order to prevent progression of the icterus or to find the cause and consequently be able to initiate an adequate therapy. One of the core symptoms of icterus is itching of the skin.

Those affected often perceive this as very distressing. The exact cause of the itching has not yet been conclusively clarified. It is suspected that the nerve endings are irritated by the accumulation of bilirubin in the skin.

Besides there are other hypotheses whose proof is also pending and should be neglected at this point. Much more important is what can be done against itching in the context of an icterus. To alleviate the itching, special medication can be administered to the affected persons. These include, for example, the drug colestyramine as well as the drugs rifampicin or naltrexone. The prescription of these drugs, some of which have many side effects, is always made by the treating physician.